This, of course, is the slight flaw in the admirable idea of the Champions League winners taking on the Copa Libertadores champions, or whoever makes it to the final of the competition. Last year, Real Madrid took on Al-Hilal in, supposedly, the biggest game in the world. In 2016, Madrid vied for global dominance against, erm, Kashima Antlers.
So perhaps these aren’t the best two teams around. Perhaps they are not very well matched, either, given Fluminense’s record signing cost £6m and five of their regular starters are 33 or older. City should win with ease.
But what the game does throw up is a fascinating tactical clash between the doyen of modern European football, Pep Guardiola, and the architect of a tactical revolution growing in Brazil, Fernando Diniz.
This story is from the December 22, 2023 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the December 22, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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